Multiple Sclerosis

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are suffering from fatigue, impaired balance, and dizziness.”

The Stats…

50-85% of patients who have multiple sclerosis (MS) complain of fatigue and/or limited mobility. The definition of MS-related fatigue is commonly understood as the self-reported perception of decreased physical or mental energy, often leading to limitations in daily activities or routines. Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue is strongly linked to impaired physical activity and quality of life. Effective treatment of MS-related fatigue is limited, with conflicting reports in regards to medications, supplements, exercise, and mutli-faceted rehabilitation programs.

What Causes the Fatigue?

One possible reason contributing to fatigue in patients with MS is problems with what is called “central sensory integration”. Central sensory integration describes how the brain uses a combination of sensory signals (vision, hearing, touch, smell, vestibular information, muscle/joint position sense) to allow us to appreciate the details of our environment and the most efficient and effective way to interact with it. 

What Goes Wrong?

Central sensory integration of the visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems is the basis for effective upright postural control in human beings. Problems with central sensory integration commonly result in symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, impaired posture and/or gait, as well as possible chronic pain syndromes. It is very common for people who have MS to have dysfunctional brain regions associated with central sensory integration (35%-51% of cerebellar or brainstem lesions, up to 85% have peripheral vestibulopathies).  

Vestibular Rehabilitation to Improve Fatigue

Research has shown correlations between improvements in postural control and feelings of dizziness with improvement of fatigue. This connection makes vestibular rehabilitation a very effective choice of treatment for many patients with MS. 

Vestibular therapy is a specific form of rehabilitation consisting of specific exercises of the eyes, head, and/or body. It has classically been used for dizziness and vertigo disorders, but more recently this form of rehabilitation has been shown to be effective in many more conditions such as MS. It has been suggested that vestibular rehabilitation provides a task-specific form of rehabilitation creating an environment to selectively improve neuronal repair and the creation of new brain connections in specific regions of the brain. 

Strong evidence supports the use of vestibular rehabilitation for the treatment of those who have MS and deficits in fatigue, upright postural control, and/or dizziness. Improvements were seen in a relatively short time with limited side effects after beginning vestibular rehabilitation. 

The staff at The Neurologic Wellness Institute are trained in a wide range of dizziness conditions and patients fly from around the world to have their dizziness managed in our clinic. 

For more information on the type of conditions, our clinicians help with, schedule a consult with one of our patient care coordinators. 

 

Herbert et al. Effects of vestibular rehabilitation on multiple sclerosis-related fatigue and upright postural control. Physical Therapy. 2011;91(8):1166-1183.

NWI

The Neurologic Wellness Institute offers personalized and innovative treatments for neurological, mental, and physical health conditions. We employ the largest number of doctors in the world who have received the highest level of training in Functional Neurology / Chiropractic Neurology by passing their Diplomate Examination.

    Waukesha, WI

    20900 Swenson Dr
    Suite 650
    Waukesha WI, 53186
     
    Phone: 262-599-8089

    Wood Dale, IL

    199 S. Addison Road
    Suite 106
    Wood Dale, IL 60191

    Phone: 630-766-1552

    Chicago, IL

    160 East Grand Ave.⁠
    Suite 200
    Chicago, IL 60611

    Phone: 312-265-0919

    Boca Raton, FL

    7700 W Camino Real⁠
    Suite 320
    Boca Raton, FL 33433

    Phone: 561-565-5560

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Multiple Sclerosis
    Vestibular Rehabilitation for ADHD
    light therapy for brain
    Dr. Roy Wilkins is both a Medical Doctor and a Doctor of Chiropractic. He also holds fellowships in sleep studies and neurology. Dr. Wilkins has specialized in sleep medicine and has helped patients from around the world suffering from sleep disorders. Dr. Wilkins practices in Lakeside, Arizona at White Mountain Sleep Lab, Inc.

#sleep #sleeptraining #sleepisimportant #sleephygiene #sleepproblems #sleepwell #sleepdisorders #sleephelp #sleephealth #sleepexpert #sleeproutine
    Listen to Kim discuss her recovery with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. The Neurologic Wellness Institute attends to patients with a wide variety of dysautonomia. We are very fortunate to play a role in Kim’s POTS journey and we thank all of our patients for their trust in our doctors.

#pots #potssyndrome #potsawareness #dysautonomia #dysautonomiaawareness #brainretraining #brainrewiring #braincare #functionalneurology
    Marie’s Story: Recovery From A Stroke

Listen to Maria’s journey struggling with stroke recovery and how she was able to find help at The Neurologic Wellness Institute. Everyone at The Neurologic Wellness Institute is honored to play a role in our patients’ success.

#poststroke #strokesurvivor #strokerecovery #strokeawareness #stroketherapy #stroketreatment #functionalneurology #braincare
    What is the Best Treatment for Dystonia?

Dr. Nick talks about the treatment options for dystonia. Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes abnormal movements. It can be classified in multiple ways like body parts (cervical or hand), action (task-induced or specific), and muscle movement (sustained or intermittent). The most common is cervical dystonia, which causes one’s neck to be twisted/tilted or be moving constantly. This can cause severe distress, pain, and not trusting one’s ability to control walking. The obvious signs are the motor problems, but there can be many underlying issues like previous head injuries/trauma, post-traumatic stress, vision abnormalities, vestibular problems, and anxiety and depression. For this reason, treatment needs to be individualized to address these in a holistic approach. There is not just one treatment option that is best for dystonia. Check out the video for more in depth information regarding the web of dysfunction underlying dystonia!
    Season 6, Episode 2: Understanding Neurodegenerative Disorders
with Dr. Elias Druckman DC

Dr. Elias Druckman DC has a strong background in functional neurology and functional medicine. He has found a passion for helping the elderly with a non-pharmaceutical approach to health and aging.
#neurodegenerative #neuro #neuroscience #cognitivedecline #braincare #functionalneurology #memorycare